Improvement in fastenings for pocket-books



'J. G; ARMS. Paste'ningsifor Pq'cket-Booksyfivc.

No. 217.315. I Patented July 8,1879.

Invenior:

NJEIEIBS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFMER. WASQINGTON. D C. v

UNITED S'rnrns PAT NT Onn o' nj JAMES C. ARMS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN FASTENINGS FOR POCKET-BOOKS 80G.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,315, dated July 8, 1879 application filed May 19, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES C. ARMS, of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State; of Connecticut, haveinvented certain I mprovements in Fastenings for Pocket-Books, &c., of 3 which the following is a specification. t

M yinvention relates to fastenin gs for pocketbooks, diaries, and similar articles; and the invention consists of a spring clasp or clamp formed of sheet metal, so constructed and apings generally used forthis purpose.

Generally speaking, fastenings for pocket, books and similar articles are made with sliding or spring catches or bolts operating on thej principle of a lock, requiring considerable carei and time to open or close them, and which usually require the hasp or catch on the flap to be brought to an exact point to enter the hole in the lock, and making no allowance for the varying conditions of the pocket-book, as to whether it be full or empty. In addition to such fastenings' requiring time and care to close or open them, they are more or less liable to get out of order in consequence of having very small springs and sliding or moving parts within them.

'Io obviate these objections and produce an exceedingly simple and cheap fastening, I make my improved fastening in the form of a simple spring clamp or clasp, and apply it in such a manner that its open end or month shall be fronting the edge of the flap to be fastened, so that all that is required is simply to push the edge of the flap into it to fasten, and pull it out to unfasten it.

The clasp itself may be made in a variety of styles, as illustrated in the drawings, but all operating on the same general plan. In its simplest form it may consist of a piece of sheet metal cut or punched out as shown in Fig. 1-, in which A represents the body, having spurs or points I) on its edges, by which it is fast flap which folds over the edge and it will be observed that the clasp is attached to the body B in such a position that its mouth or i open side is opposite the edge of the flap (3, so that there is nothing to do but to shove the edge of the flap into the open mouth of the clasp, as shown, the free end or tongue I acting as a spring to clamp and hold the flap fast.

In Fig. 3 the spurs b are shown locatednear -the center, and both ends of the plate A are bent over, the under one, I, in this case serving as the spring-tongue, the flap C being shoved in' between it and the upper end, as shown.

In Fig. 4 the tongue I is represented as being made of a separate piece of metal, and held in place by bending the end of the plate I over on it and pressing it down tightly, so as to clamp and hold it fast. This plan, which is also shown in some of the other modifications, enables me to make the tongue I of steel or other spring metal different from that of the part A, if desired.

In Fig. 5 the clasp is shown made of a sin gle piece, the same as in Fig. 3, but with the end of the tongue I projecting through an opening at the oposite side, where it serves as a thumb-piece, by which the tongue or spring part can be depressed, if desired, in order to release the flap.

Fig. 6 represents the same general construe tion; but in this case the tongue I is made of a separate piece, the same as in Fig. 4. By making it separate in this Way, and. inserting it through the hole at the edge before fasten;

in g it to the body A, its outer end can be made wider and of any ornamental form desired, as shown.

Fig. 7 represents the same style of device, except that in this the upper part, A, instead of being formed by bending over the plate A, is made of a separate piece, and the spurs b are made on it and are inserted through holes in the plate A, and to which it may be soldered fast at those points before applying it to the pocket-book, if desired, and as it would preferably be where the fastenings are made up for sale as separate articles, though if applied to the pocket-books where made it would not be necessary, as the spurs b when clamped on the leather would hold the parts securely in place.

Figs. 8 and 9 represent the fastening made of a single piece, similar to that shown in Fig. 5, except that the tongue-piece I has a hole made in it, through which the other and narrower end of plateAis made to protrude, and is bent over as shown.

In all cases the flap G is designed to have its edge where it engages under the clamp protected by a binding or piece of metal, 0, as shown in the several sectional views. In some styles of pocket-books this metallic binding will be made to extend all along the edge of the flap G, as shown in Fig. 9.

In order to hold the flap more securely in the clamp, I formdepressions of various styles or forms, in which the metal binding 0 engages when in place. These may consist of a bend or transverse groove, f, as represented in Figs. 6, 7, and 9, and which are specially adapted to the continuous metal binding or they may consist of one .or more holes, r], as shown in Figs. 5and 8. Where the metal piece 6 is short, as shown in Fig. 5, a groove or depression, 0, may be made of a width equal to the length. of the piece 0, to serve as a guide for the piece 0 as the flap is shoved in.

It is obvious that the depressions or holes in which the part c engages may be made in the upper or under member ,of the .clamp, the result being the same in either case and by makinga series of them at different points, as represented in Fig. 5, where one hole is shown made in the tongue I at one point, and another in the upper arm at the edge where it is bent over, it will be seen that the flap may be held at these various points, thus accommodating the fastening to the condition of the pocketbook, and securing the flap equally well whether the pocket-book be full or empty.

It is obvious that the fastening may be made up in a variety of styles, and be made more or less ornamental, thus adapting it for use on all the various classes of goods made in these lines, its principle of construction and operation being the same in all cases.

By these means it will be seen that lam enabled to produce a very simple and .cheap fastening, and that is exceedinglysimple and convenient in its use.

I am aware that a fastening has been made in which a hinged plate with a spring to hold it open or closed is used, and also that a springcatch provided with right-angled interlocking shoulders has been patented, and I do not claim such; but,

Having described my claim, is-- The herein-described fastening for pocketbooks, diaries, &c., consisting of the baseplateA, provided with spurs or points for securing it to the article, and the spring-plate I, the said parts being constructed and arranged to operate as set forth, whereby the flap is held by friction, and may be shoved in or drawn out of the fastening without releasing or operating any hinged or sliding fastenings.

JAMES C. ARMS.

invention, what I Witnesses:

B. R. ALLEN. GERALD H. BROWN. 

